Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-09-29
HARRY'S SUBSTITUTE.

1ARRYS SObo ~ OiEs
An Accident Out of Which Came Much
That Was Good.
ooh, dear! it's too bad! it's too
awful badr' exclaimed Harry Clark.
1t was not the first of his grooming;
indeed. he had done nothing else since
he had been brought in with broken
leg, caused by falling off the end
of the ice-wagon. But now the doctor
had gone, and the injured limb was
lying in state. and Harry had leisure
to count the cost. 1t. promised to be
dear, for it was the first week of vaca-
ton, and the very next week he was to
have gone to the country. Aunt Sarah
Griggs-the dearest old soul in the
world-had written to his father that
she wanted to have Harry whole
month; he should fish. and ride, and
row, and eat to his hearts content
And when he remembered the cream
biscuit, fried chicken, and whortleber-
ry pudding he had eaten there on a
previous visit, he felt as though the
eating would be the greatest pleasure
of all. Moreover, he was to make til e
journey alone; his father would
see him on the car, and
the stage would take him the re-
naming five miles after leaving the
train at Pineville. Such was the plan;
and how Harry had anticipated that
trip only thirteen-year-old boy can
understand; but now, 'Oh, dear! it's
too bad. too bad!"
Eyes, Harry" said his mother; 'but
we must make the best of it; it's just
got to be endured;" and looking for
ward to the long hot weeks to come,
when she would have restless boy on
her hands. in addition to her other
burdens. she felt as if her patience
would be sorely taxed.
Aunt Sarah'll be so disappointed,
too. Don't you s'pose I can go next
month-the last of it, anyhow, man.
map"
..You know what the doctor said,
Harry; it's bad break. and you must
be careful a long time. Tn very sorry
for you"
"Oh, dear! mebbe the doctor don't
know every thing. What will I do all
summer?'
I'VE must contrive amusement You
like to read and draw"
Yes, but boy don't want to do
such things all his vacation. wish it
had been my arm. Aunt Sarah II feel
dreadful when she hears about it
dreadful"
.'Shure, an she moight better thank
her stharsp' muttered Katie Malloy.
as she toiled up the stairs for the
fortieth time that day. ''It's COM
Portable, aisy life she'll have widout
him, be CORY! Here's the irish
dhrink We wanted, Masther Harry; an
it's aisy ye are now"
''Ohl no, no.! Amt you sorry for
me. Katiep''
..Yis, indade, but it's nothin' dan
gersome at all, at all. Suppose We
war loike by I heered till of this
blissid mornin', thin!''
''What about him. Katiep"
Its Mis- Muldoon's own sisther's
by, an it was she tould me about
him; We see, he had the noomony in
the sphring, an it's jest wastin' away
he is, an the docther they TUX him to
said as how it war houlsome vittles an
irish air an milk he naded more'n
drugstuffs; an there's his mother,
poor lone wildly woman, an gifts the
Twin tor the three av' EN- by schrub bin
in the big sthores; an the fruits an
the milk the docther tells about is as
fur from the loikes av'em as the goold
gates o. hiven thimselves. more's the
pity!''
Harry was very quiet after Katie
had gone, but at last he said, eagerly:
Mamma, do you s'pose Aunt Sarah
would take that boy in my placer"
Il don't know, I'm sure. She
might"
''Oh, if she only would, / shouldn't
care so very much about my broken
leg. He wouldn't make more trouble
than L"
Not unless he was sick enough to
require waiting on. But we must
know more about him before enter
tanning such plans
Yes, mamma; but please find out
right away, please do! Then when
we write to Aunt Sarah that can't
come, we'll ask her to take him in-
stead. right away.
Eyes. Then he will be your sub
stitute. DEAR
Harry was fast losing his disap-
pointment and fretfulness in this new
interest. and after Katie had been in.
terviewed to the, extent of her know
ledge. Mrs. Clark went to see. the boy.
and the letter was speedily sent on its
mission. Harry added postscript
setting forth in emphatic boy-langnage
the need of his protege, and his own
desire for him; and the teader-hearted
auntie read it, and wiped her eyes, and
said: Bless him! he's got the big
Clark heart right over. To think of
him bein' so kind, the dear creeturt'
A few days later Harry received
letter by mail, and box by express.
The letter was full of sympathy and
love, and directed the invalid boy to
be forwarded at once. The box con-
tanned a spring chicken. sassafrass,
birch, some harvest apples and pears,
and a birthday cake, for Harry's birth
day was the next Sunday.
He was juhilant over his gifts, and
the benefit he was to confer on an
other.
The sick boy was brought to see him